Our Staff

JASON BOWMAN, MPA, DIRECTOR

Jason designed and oversees the College Re-Entry program’s curriculum. The curriculum is designed to help students who have experienced a mental health crisis develop the skills and well-being to return to college successfully. Jason manages strategic partnerships with mental health professionals, higher education officers, and community organizations to ensure that College Re-Entry benefits as many students as possible.

Jason is a leader in community-based mental health and has worked at Fountain House for more than 15 years, creating some of its most innovative programming. From 2004 to 2013, Jason was Director of Fountain House Gallery, expanding it from a small volunteer program into the premier venue in New York City representing artists with mental illness. Fountain House Gallery has been recognized by both the mental health and professional art fields as a successful model for meaningfully integrating people with mental illness into society.

Jason earned a BA in Sociology from Marymount Manhattan College and received his master’s degree in public and nonprofit administration from Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs.

ANNA JARASHOW GUIMARAES, LMSW, ACADEMIC COACH

Anna Guimaraes is a licensed social worker and Yoga Alliance Certified Yoga Teacher. She earned her MSW from Columbia University, where she focused her field and academic work on both mental health and substance misuse populations, with a particular focus on integrating holistic health practices into her practice. She has worked at Fountain House since 2010, where she honed her skills in positive engagement, Motivational Interviewing, and served as a liaison and advocate between adults with mental illness and community resources. She helped create the College Re-Entry Core program, focusing on wellness initiatives, course development, coaching approaches, and community building activities. She has a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Bates College.

JULIE WOLFSON, LMSW, ACADEMIC COACH

Julie Wolfson is a licensed social worker with special interests in strengths-based approaches and early intervention. She has a BA from Washington University in St. Louis and an MSW from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Julie completed an internship at UNC's specialized outpatient clinic for young adults experiencing early episode psychosis and also founded the Mental Health Caucus at the UNC School of Social Work. She previously worked at Green Door in Washington, DC, a community mental health clinic and Clubhouse with an emphasis on advocacy, psychoeducation, and engaging young adults. She has been with College Re-Entry since its inception and helped to develop the Core curriculum.

Stephanie Battle, Yoga Instructor

Stephanie Battle has a background in dance, music, and theatre and has been teaching yoga since 2010. She received her advanced certification from Sonic Yoga and is currently the Director of Programs at Sacred Brooklyn Bed-Stuy, co-facilitating yoga teacher trainings locally and abroad. Ms. Battle has specialized training in Yoga Nidra and Restorative Yoga. Her classes have a breath-centered approach and explore balance through asana, as a way to understand how yoga fits into the broader scope of our daily lives.

Sarah Grimaud, Fitness Coach

Sarah Grimaud has been in the Health and Wellness industry for over 7 years. She is a Certified Integrative Nutrition Health Coach and Fitness Expert. Sarah’s fitness credentials include Personal Training and Group Fitness Instructor certifications from both the National Academy of Sports Medicine as well as the Aerobics and Fitness Association of America. Her passion is helping clients find success in life by reaching their goals by integrating enjoyable, healthy habits into their busy schedule.

Lucas Hall, Creative Expression

Australian born wellness specialist Lucas Hall is a yoga/meditation/sound healing instructor, certified personal trainer, and creative expression facilitator. His years of training and experience working both as a professional actor/singer/dancer and corporate wellness educator adds to his versatility, creativity, and understanding of working with a wide variety of people.

Shiv Kotecha, Critical Reading, and Writing Instructor

Shiv Kotecha is a poet, critic, and writing instructor living in New York City. He is the author of several books of poetry and is currently a PhD candidate at NYU, completing a dissertation titled "Decomposition as Explanation: The Forms of Duration from Poe to Post­Conceptual Writing."

Christine Zehner, Meditation and Yoga Instructor

Christine first stepped onto the yoga mat ten years ago and was immediately inspired by the transformative power of an alignment based practice. She chose to study at World Yoga Center because of its deep lineage and connection to Anusara principles and received a 200-hour teacher training certificate in 2014. Christine also holds certificates through advanced training in kids yoga from OM Schooled, restorative yoga, focus for older adults via BomerPlus, meditation, classical myths, and the in-depth mentoring program at Twisted Trunk. Along with teaching at various yoga studios and schools across the city, her downtown loft provides an inspired space for private practice geared towards teens and a creative community seeking precision through joyful action.